Margarita Bala and her two children, 9-year-old Selama and 5-year-old Gali, in the department of Sololá, Guatemala. When she learned about Habitat for Humanity Guatemala from her neighbor, she decided that investing in a Healthy Home Kit would be a good option for her family. 

«I shared a stove with my mother before. I am happy with the stove I have now. I like that it uses less wood, heats up quickly, and doesn’t fill the kitchen with smoke.», Margarita explains.

She continues: «Now it is only the three of us use the new latrine; before we shared a latrine with 6 other family members. This one is cleaner and more comfortable because it is new and we are using it properly. And my children also get sick less often because now we have access to purified water.»

«We were happy to have the volunteers! We all spent time with them and ate lunch in the front yard.», Margarita finishes.

Basilia Sacuj lives with her family in the department of Sololá, Guatemala. She and her husband Benjamin have two children, a 7-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl. While Benjamin works in the fields, Basilia weaves huipils, the traditional Maya blouse, and other items. She also takes care of the home.

«My other stove was really old.», begins Basilia. «It made my tortillas very smoky and the flavor was awful. Now my tortillas turn out well.»

In addition to constructing a smokeless stove with the support of Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, Basilia and her family also now have their own water filter and sanitary latrine. Basilia says: «We were used to drinking water that had not been filtered, but now we get sick less often. And while before we shared a latrine with our relatives, we now have our own to use. I am happy and they are happy too!»

«It was great to have the volunteers here!», shares Basilia. «I was happy to have them here. It was a fun time and they were so nice. And they worked well!»

Elsa Candelaria lives with her husband, Arturo, and their three children in the department of Sololá, Guatemala. Arturo works in agriculture while Elsa takes care of her home and family. The two oldest children, 14-year-old Brenda and 11-year-old Luis, are in school. Oscar, who is 3 years old, stays at home with Elsa.

Elsa explains how partnering with Habitat for Humanity Guatemala to implement a Healthy Home Kit has improved aspects of her family’s daily life: «The stove I had before was 13 years old. There was a lot of smoke, but my new smokeless stove doesn’t have this problem. And the smoke used to make my throat hurt. We also use much less wood now.»«Before I had a water filter I had to boil my water.», continues Elsa. «That used extra wood. Now I don’t have to boil water–it is is already clean! Our new latrine is so much better too: the old one was 8 years old and had a broken door.»

Elsa finishes by sharing what it was like to have volunteers support her family: «It was such a help, such a support. They helped build the stove and latrine. It was lovely to have them; they spent time with us and we shared ideas.»